Improved process or method for making a die to reproduce natural wood grain or the like



Patented July 2,1935

' UNITED STATES,

IMPROVED PROCESS on METHOD ron MAKING A DIE 'ro REPRODUCE NATURAL WOOD GRAIN OR THE LIKE Paul R. Zinser, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Woodall Industries Incorporated, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Application February 25, 1931, Serial No. 518,300

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved process or method for making a die to reproduce natural wood grain or the like.

. Heretofore natural wood grain has been imi- 5 tated on fiat surfaces commercially by means of What is commonly known as the transfer process. This process, while extensively used, is at best a palpable imitation and lacks true identity of appearance and invariably it is possible to' recognize the product as an imitation, however well executed it may be. r

' This improved process product is superior to those hitherto known by reason of the fact that the actual physical characteristics of the wood which create the effect of the natural grain upon the eye of the observer are themselves reproduced within the material upon which the artificial wood grain is formed. Inthis way the reproduction is made so realistic that the observer can scarcely tell that the material is not a natural grain WOOd. An important characteristic of the improvement is that the cause itself rather than the effect is transferred to the thermoplastic sheet thereby creating directly the natural effect which produces the desired impression on the eye of the observer.

An object is to provide an improved process or method which relates primarily to the treatment to which the natural Wood or the like, the surface configurations of which are to be reproduced, is

subjected prior to the electrodeposit of metal on as oak, walnut, mahogany or the like. In carrying out the process the natural wood, the surface grain of which it is desired to reproduce, is first subjected to a suitable etching operation to bring out more clearly the natural wood grain. The natural wood is normally in the form of a board or plank and thesmooth natural grain surface which it is desired to reproduce is sand blasted or rubbed with a wire brush sothat the grain of the Wood stands out in emphasized delineation.

the reproduction of any natural wood grain such Natural wood'grain is caused by varying, densities of the material and this etching treatment with a wire brush or by sand blasting serves to bring out or exaggerate the natural grain effect.

Following this etching of the Wood it is immersed is fused wax, or some other suitable filler, such as boiling beeswax, which-seals up the pores of the wood. The boiling .wax penetrates into these pores and forms a barrier which prevents the acid of the electrolyte, wherein the board is later immersed, from eating into the wood. The board, after being submerged for that length of time necessary to fill the pores, is removed from the wax solution and its surface is laid bare by again brushing or sand blasting to remove the excess coating of wax which has formed on its outer surface and which might fill up the crevices etched upon the surface.

After the board has been thus treated it is then carbonized or sensitized. This may be accomplished with a metallic spray. It is for the purpose of transforming the board into an electric pole to serve as an electrode in an electro-plating process to which it is to be subjected. The board is then immersed in an electrolyte solution such as a copper solution. Copper is deposited upon the board to the desired thickness and the tiny crevices and depressions which have been etched therein, and which delineate the natural wood grain will be precisely reproduced in minute detail electrodeposit a 'wood grain upon a die plate which includes subjecting the wood from which the grain is to be reproduced on the die to a Wax wax, again subjecting the surface of the wood 0 to a sand blast to remove any, excess wax in the grain delineations on the surface of the wood, and forming by electrolytic deposit a die plate on said surface.

3. That method of reproducing a natural wood grain upon a die which comprises etching the surface of the wood which is to be reproduced to emphasize the delineation of its grain, treating said surface with a waxy acid resistant filler to penetrate and fill the pores of the wood, removing the excess of said filler from the surface of the wood to clearly delineate the grain laying the surface bare of said filler, and forming by electrodeposit a die plate on said surface.

PAUL R. ZINSER. 

